Surveillance

Updated:Apr 11,2011

The American Heart Association covers many areas when it comes to heart disease and stroke (see list at right). The current priority is the establishment of comprehensive surveillance systems for heart disease, stroke and risk in order to monitor incidence and care and evaluate the impact of prevention and treatment efforts in the United States.

Support policies that coordinate the linkage of pre-hospital data to hospital-level data.

Support policies which improve data quality and increase provider participation.

Electronic Medical Records

Monitor the role that the development and implementation of electronic medical records, and related health information technology strategies, have in heart disease and stroke standardized data collection.

Stroke Registries

Promote the establishment and expansion of statewide registries that compile stroke incidence and care information and statistics that align with the stroke consensus metrics developed and approved by the AHA/ASA, CDC and Joint Commission.

Through legislation, regulations and/or other appropriate means, advocate for Get With The Guidelines Stroke as the state registry data platform. Support public funding to advance clinical decision support programs, such as Get With The Guidelines.

Heart Disease Registries

Promote the establishment and expansion of statewide registries that compile information and statistics on heart disease incidence and care.

Support public funding to advance clinical decision support programs, which align with AHA evidence-based guidelines, data elements and definitions, and advocate that these programs serve as the state registry data platform.

For more information about the policies on this page, please contact Jill Birnbaum, 214.706.1381

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State Issues

Advocacy Contacts

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association advocates for sound public policy strategies aimed at reducing heart disease and stroke. We have government relations teams in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Learn who your federal and state staff contacts are and how to reach them about policy issues.